Influence of Binders and Lightweight Aggregates on the Properties of Cementitious Mortars: From Traditional Requirements to Indoor Air Quality Improvement

• Published in: Materials Vol. 10; no. 8; p. 978
• Main Authors: Giosuè, Chiara, Pierpaoli, Mattia, Mobili, Alessandra, Ruello, Maria Letizia, Tittarelli, Francesca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 22.08.2017; MDPI
• Subjects: Aggregates; Air quality; cement; depollution; Indoor air pollution; Indoor air quality; Indoor Air Quality (IAQ); Lightweight; lightweight aggregates; Mechanical properties; moisture buffering value; mortar; Mortars (material); Photocatalysis; Ventilation; Weight reduction; cement; moisture buffering value; lightweight aggregates; mortar; depollution; Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma10080978

Innovative and multifunctional mortars for renders and panels were manufactured using white photocatalytic and non-photocatalytic cement as binder. Unconventional aggregates, based on lightweight materials with high specific surface and adsorbent properties, were adopted in order to investigate the possible ability to passively improve indoor air quality. The reference mortar was manufactured with traditional calcareous sand. Results show that even if the mechanical properties of mortars with unconventional aggregates generally decrease, they remain acceptable for application as render. The innovative mortars were able to passively improve indoor air quality in terms of transpirability (70% higher), moisture buffering ability (65% higher) and depolluting capacity (up to 75% higher) compared to traditional ones under the current test conditions.